Tobago holds first Best Village finals

FOR the first time in the history of the Prime Minister's Best Village Trophy Competition, the Tobago final will be held at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex on August 17 and 18.

Some 11 groups are expected to perform in the folk presentations segment of the competition on August 17. Categories include folk medley (13 and under); calypso medley; creative freestyle dance; local interpretative dance; folk song solo, among others. The show runs from 11 am-2 pm.

The Tobago Drama Guild is the only finalist in the folk theatre presentation on August 18 at 6 pm.

Jesse Taylor, cultural officer II, THA Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, said the two-day event marks an historic moment for Tobago.

“It is the first opportunity that Tobago will have over the 61 years of the incarnation of the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition to host the final, which is in direct alignment with the national competition,” he told Newsday.

“This is about bringing all of the talents of Tobago in a Tobago space and this is unprecedented.”

Apart from creating opportunities for entrepreneurship, Taylor said the show will also promote a greater appreciation for the performing arts outside of the island.

Taylor said the use of the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, which he regards as a state-of-the-art facility, also adds stature to the competition.

He believes the facility is on par with the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain and the Southern Academy of the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando, both of which have featured the creme de la creme in local culture.

He said the artistes in the final were already “poised and ready” to display their talents at the upcoming Tobago Blue Food Festival and other cultural events during the cruise ship season.

“The performers will be more equipped to treat with our tourism prospects and thrust.”

Jared Prima, interim CEO, Tobago Performing Arts Company, said he is glad to see that the island getting its chance to compete.

“While these circumstances are unique, this festival represents one of the few opportunities for the tenets of inclusion and nationalism to be practised through performance and the arts, the basis of the festival in the first place,” he said.

Prima said he hopes the “appropriate investment” is given to the next iteration of the festival.

“I look forward to a Best Village final involving both Trinidad and Tobago.”

Culture secretary Tashia Burris said the hosting of a Tobago final of the Best Village competition in Tobago “signals that our creative talents are blossoming on the island.”

She added, “With a record number of participants in the preliminaries and an equally impressive number of those who have qualified for the final, the final is testament to the dedication and hard work of our cultural and community groups, the department of culture and entities such as the Tobago Performing Arts Company.”

Burris said the island continues to create avenues for talented Tobagonians to participate fully in all aspects of its culture and heritage.

“They can become standard bearers for excellence in the fields of drama, dance and music.”

Saying she is excited to see the groups on display, Burris urged Tobagonians to come out and show their support for the performers.

Categories and participants

Spiritual song

Rhythmic Vibrations

Folk medley (13 and under)

Youthquake

Rhythm Babes

Parang

Roxborough Gems Folk Performing Company

Calypso medley

Rhythmic Vibrations

Youthquake

Folk song solo

Crystal Sergeant Carter

Rhythmic Vibrations

Youthquake

Best original calypso

Sisters In Culture

Pan Solo

Rhythmic Vibrations

East Indian influenced dance

Youthquake

Spiritual dance

Zante Unique Touch

Creative freestyle dance

Youthquake

Encore Dance Theatre

National Patriotic dance (13 and under)

Rhythm Babes

Tobago Alpha Dance Academy

Local interpretative dance

Delicia’s Dance Agency

Rhythmic Vibrations

Youthquake

African influenced dance

Encore Dance Theatre

Zante Unique Touch

Delecia’s Dance Agency

Rhythmic Vibrations

Youthquake

African devotional dance

Encore Dance Theatre

Drummology

Charlotteville Police Youth Club

Folk theatre presentation

Tobago Drama Guild